DUBOIS – A Reynoldsville man stands accused of leading police on a high-speed vehicle chase.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed with District Judge Patrick Ford May 29, Dustin L. Douthit, 29, 528 Sykesville School Rd., Sykesville, is charged by the DuBois City police with fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, driving a vehicle at unsafe speeds, reckless driving, criminal mischief and five summary traffic charges following an incident May 16.
According to the affidavit, officers were on patrol near South Brady Street and saw a blue Dodge Dakota traveling north on South Brady Street. The vehicle allegedly honked its horn at another vehicle and then did a U-turn in the middle of the road, passing the patrol vehicle again at a high rate of speed.
The officer attempted to pull the vehicle over, but it continued over the Sandy Bridge and accelerated, reaching speeds of up to 80-miles-per-hour, in a 35-miles-per-hour zone. As the officer pursued, he noted that the vehicle was allegedly swerving all over the road.
The vehicle continued south, allegedly accelerating to speeds over 85-miles-per-hour, driving erratically, making turns without signaling and going through intersections without stopping at the stop signs. The officer continued to pursue the vehicle and called for back-up. The vehicle allegedly attempted to turn onto Thunderbird Road, but it slid sideways, with its operator nearly losing control. The officer then discontinued the chase but located the vehicle the truck had honked at.
The driver allegedly told the officer that she was looking for her boyfriend, Dustin Douthit, who was driving the truck the officer had been chasing. As the officer was speaking to the driver, County Control reported that a Sandy Township officer had located a home owner on Thunderbird Road who reported a truck had allegedly left the road, trove over a culvert ditch, through the front yard and around to the back of the house.
As the truck traveled over the ditch, it “bottomed out” and damaged the yard. The truck also hit the ditch at a speed high enough to leave parts and pieces of the truck in the yard. The property owner allegedly told police that the truck left with its headlights off.
County Control then received a call from another resident on Thunderbird Road who said there was a blue Dodge Dakota truck parked in her yard near her garage. The caller told dispatchers that she did not know who owned the truck or why it was parked on her property.
When police arrived, they found the truck had damage consistent with the parts and pieces they found. The officer allegedly found a note on the vehicle’s windshield, which said “Dear Sir, I hit my truck in a ditch; I will get it towed as soon as possible. Thank you.” The vehicle was registered to Douthit and it was photographed and taken to the police impound yard.
The following day, police received a phone call from Douthit, who said he wanted to speak to them about the incident. When he arrived at the police station, Douthit allegedly told police that he was coming back to DuBois because he was looking for his girlfriend after they had been fighting.
Douthit allegedly told police he saw his girlfriend’s car near the Sandy Bridge, honked his horn as she passed him, then turned around and went after her. Douthit allegedly told police he saw the patrol vehicle behind him but didn’t want to go back to jail.
Douthit allegedly told police he had turned town Thunderbird Road and attempted to hide by turning into a yard. He said he didn’t know the ditch was there and hit it at a very fast speed.
Douthit allegedly said he then drove around the side of the house and was going to leave on foot. He said he saw the patrol car go past the house and attempted to drive the vehicle back on to Thunderbird Road but noticed the damage to the truck.
Douthit allegedly told police he drove the vehicle to another house and left it there before leaving on foot to call for a ride. He said he went back the following day and left a note on the vehicle so the homeowners would know that nothing was wrong.